As we prepare for this month’s LEGACY CONFERENCE, we’re highlighting inspirational quotes on leadership, purpose, marriage, and living life to its fullest potential, by beloved pastor and motivational speaker Dr. Myles Munroe.

World-renowned pastor and motivational speaker Dr. Myles Munroe was founder of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship in the Bahamas, and CEO and Chairman of the Board of the International Third World Leaders Association. As president of the International Leadership Training Institute, he traveled the world training leaders in business, government, education, sports, media, and religion.

This week, we celebrate Dr. Munroe’s contribution to the spiritual life of mankind with a list of some of our favorite quotes:

ON LEADERSHIP

“The Creator caused to be inherent in each created entity – including the apex of his creation, mankind – everything it needs to fulfill its original purpose. The original purpose for mankind, defined and established by the Creator, was to “rule (have dominion) over all the earth.” Since the word ‘dominion’ in this case means to reign and rule, the Creator wired ALL human beings with the capacity and natural ability to lead.”

“Leadership is not about control, but service. It’s not about power, but empowerment. It’s not about manipulation, but inspiration.”

“People generally fall into one of three groups: the few who make things happen, the many who watch things happen, and the overwhelming majority, who have no notion of what happens. Every person is either a creator of fact or a creature of circumstance. He either puts color into his environment, or, like a chameleon, takes color from his environment.”

“Solid character will reflect itself in consistent behavior, while poor character will seek to hide behind deceptive words and actions.”

“Kingdom citizenship is a spiritual reality, but it is also a mentality. As believers, we already have the Spirit of God, but we need to learn the mind and the heart of God.”

“Purpose is when you know and understand what you were born to accomplish. Vision is when you see it in your mind and begin to imagine it.”

“Circumstances and crises are God’s tools to move you into your purpose and the maximizing of your potential.”

“Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams”.

“By refining your gift, you make room for it in the world. The more refined your gift, the more in demand you will be.”

“The wealthiest places in the world are not gold mines, oil fields, diamond mines or banks. The wealthiest place is the cemetery. There lies companies that were never started, masterpieces that were never painted. In the cemetery there is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential. There is a treasure within you that must come out. Don’t go to the grave with your treasure still within YOU.”

ON POTENTIAL

“Be fruitful. God’s command in Genesis 1:28 is most often understood as referring to procreation, but filling the earth with people is only part of the meaning. God’s purpose is that we bear abundant fruit and release the blessings of our gift and potential to the world.”

“Don’t ever make the mistake of telling God that you have nothing to offer. That simply is not true. God does not create any junk.”

“You must decide if you are going to rob the world or bless it with the rich, valuable, potent, untapped resources locked away within you.”

“The more faithful we are with our stewardship, the more resources God will entrust to us. That is a biblical principle.”

“Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.” – Dr. Myles Munroe

ON DATING AND RELATIONSHIPS

“Healthy relationships should always begin at the spiritual and intellectual levels – the levels of purpose, motivation, interests, dreams, and personality.”

“The time you are most prepared for dating is when you don’t need anyone to complete you, fulfill you, or instill in you a sense of worth or purpose.”

“Being open to correction means making ourselves vulnerable, and many people are not willing to do that.”

“Friendship is not a gift, but is the result of hard work.”

ON MARRIAGE

“Marriage is the most important decision a person will make, next to his decision to follow Christ.”

“A wedding is an event, but marriage is a life.”

“God did not create woman from man’s head, that he should command her, nor from his feet, that she should be his slave, but rather from his side, that she should be near his heart.”

“The adversary’s global attack on marriage is actually an attack on society itself, and ultimately an attack on God, the creator and manufacturer of society and marriage. The adversary knows that if he can destroy marriage, he can destroy families. If he can destroy families, he can destroy society. And if he can destroy society, he can destroy humanity.”

ON LIFE

“Life is not measured by duration but by donation.”

“We are not to be so concerned about who approves or disapproves of us, but remember that God’s approval is what counts. Those whom God approves are approved indeed.”

“Proverbs 25:28 says, ‘Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.’ In other words, if we do not control our own lives from the inside, somebody else will control them from the outside.”

“I’m washed, I’m forgiven, I’m whole, and I’m healed. I’m cleansed and I’m glory bound. I am only a sojourner on the earth. I am but a pilgrim on this planet, on my way to perfection, and I don’t need anybody to tell me who I am, because I know who I am. I am a child of the King, a son (or daughter) of God, born again through Jesus Christ, bought with the price of His blood. I am a new creation, totally new, thoroughly loved and completely accepted as a child of my Father, precious in His sight.”

Dr. Myles Munroe (1954-2014) was founder of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship in the Bahamas and CEO and Chairman of the Board of the International Third World Leaders Association. He was the author of 69 books, including: Becoming a Leader, The Principles and Power of Vision, The Pursuit of Purpose, Understanding Your Potential, Rediscovering the Kingdom, Waiting and Dating, The Purpose and Power of Love and Marriage, and God’s Big Idea, among others. Dr. Myles Munroe’s book, The Burden Of Freedom, revolutionized how many viewed the peoples of Africa and the Caribbean. In 1978 Dr. Monroe received his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Education, and Theology degree from Oral Roberts University, and in 1980, a Master’s degree in administration from the University of Tulsa. He has also received several honorary doctorate degrees, and served as an adjunct professor of the Graduate School of Theology at ORU. Notably, in 1998, Dr. Munroe was awarded an OBE – Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – by Queen Elizabeth II for services to religion.